Kyl: Start from scratch on stimulus

Listening to Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), the minority whip, the prospects for bipartisan support for the stimulus package appear dim.

Kyl said he has not started counting votes, but “I see support for this legislation eroding.”

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“I think the more people around the country see it, the angrier they get because it’s very wasteful,” Kyl said on “Fox News Sunday.”

Kyl argued that the current bill does little to actually stimulate the economy, and wastes millions on, among other things, World War II Filipino Veterans who live in the Philippines, more than 30 new government programs, and a new $500 tax rebate—despite last year's rebate doing little to stimulate the economy.

“I think you have to start from scratch and reconstruct this,” Kyl said.

Among the changes Republicans will seek is to have the stimulus focus on housing, which is where the crisis started, Kyl said.

Senate Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), also appearing on Fox News Sunday, said he has been speaking with Republicans, telling them, “We’re open about this. Come to us with your ideas… Let’s move forward.”

And, he said, the largest amendment added to the bill in the Senate Finance Committee was a GOP-authored one to prevent the Alternative Minimum Tax from hitting more taxpayers. The $80 billion amendment means that tax cuts now make up 36 percent of the more than $800 billion stimulus package.

Durbin said some Republicans have said they want more spending on infrastructure, and therefore there will be an amendment to do add it.

Democratic leaders are also busy addressing concerns of some members of their own party to prevent defections.

“This is not another bill. This is not another political debate this isn’t something that we can just dismiss at the end of the week and say ‘well let’s move on and do something else,’” Durbin warned. “We’re facing one of the most serious economic crises in our nation’s history. … America is counting on this.”

But Kyl defended his caucus against charges that they’re just playing obstructionists.

“There is a crisis in this country. Republicans full appreciate that. People are hurting and that’s why we don’t want to see this opportunity wasted,” Kyl said.